Floyd Mayweather Jr. motions to fans with a ring girl at his side during the arrivals for their boxing match Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017, in Las Vegas. Mayweather is scheduled to fight Conor McGregor in a boxing match Saturday, Aug. 26 in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

In this July 13, 2017, file photo, Floyd Mayweather Jr., left, and Conor McGregor, of Ireland, face each other for photos during a news conference at Barclays Center in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)

Floyd Mayweather Jr. is either getting soft in his older age, or he is being extra nice so as to pump up the pay-per-view buys for what is supposed to be his final fight Saturday against UFC star Conor McGregor at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (on Showtime pay-per-view).

During a recent conference call Mayweather actually thanked reporters for all the stories they have written about him over the years.

“Hey, everybody. I want to say thanks for having me on this call and I want to thank you guys for writing about me for the last 21 years and keeping me relevant,” said Mayweather, 40. “Without the writers and the people that support this event and throughout my whole career, I wouldn’t be where I’m at.”

Indeed, Mayweather has been a superstar in one of the world’s toughest rackets. He is 49-0 with 26 knockouts and if he beats McGregor, he will retire 50-0, surpassing the 49-0 record of former heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano.

Some will call for an asterisk to be stamped on a win over McGregor because he is a professional mixed martial artist who will be in his first pro boxing match. But that shouldn’t detract from what Mayweather has already accomplished.

Related Articles

Either way, Mayweather seems stoked about the chance to make history, and respectful toward Marciano.

“I don’t focus on other fighters,” Mayweather said. “But I’m appreciative for every fighter that paved the way for me to be where I’m at. I always talk about how I appreciate the legendary fighters. My focus is to go out there and give the fans an exciting fight even though I know this is number 50 and we’re constantly talking about Rocky Marciano.

“I just always like to let the fans and the people know Rocky Marciano is a legend. Rocky Marciano did it his way, and I would just like to try to do it the Mayweather way.”

That would be making opponents look foolish as they try to land a clean punch – there are more swings and misses in one of his fights than a Major League Baseball game.

Consequently, Mayweather will go down as not only an all-time great, but one of the best defensive fighters in history. And it is all coming to an end. He promises.

“Actually, I thought that Andre Berto was going to be the last weigh-in,” said Mayweather, whose most recent fight was a victory over Berto in September 2015, after which he said he was retired. “I thought that was going to be the last training camp. I mean, just honestly speaking, I thought that was going to be my last everything.

“You just don’t ever know what can happen. We’re here with this big event. This is my last one, ladies and gentlemen. I gave my word to (manager) Al Haymon, I gave my word to my children, and one thing I don’t want to do is break that.”

Mayweather has won titles in five weight classes while becoming a pay-per-view sensation. His May 2015 fight with Manny Pacquiao did a record 4.4 million buys, which could be eclipsed Saturday.

Final news conference

It shouldn’t be surprising that there was more posturing at Wednesday’s final meeting with the media, as there has been plenty during the promotion. This time, McGregor was the aggressor, while Mayweather spoke in more calm tones.

“He made an error with eight-ounce gloves; I have the power to end this in one round,” McGregor said. “I’m very happy with the eight-ounce gloves. Keep your hands up, keep your hands down. I don’t care. I’ll break through whatever is in front of me.”

The rules are that any fight at 154 pounds or higher – this one is at 154 – will be contested with 10-ounce gloves. Eight-ounce gloves are worn at the lighter weights. McGregor typically wears 4-ounce gloves in the UFC. The fighters petitioned the Nevada State Athletic Commission to go to the eight-ounce gloves, and the request was approved.

Again, Mayweather was cool.

“One thing he (McGregor) must know about the sport of boxing and about combat sport is that if you give it, you must be able to take it,” he said. “I’ve faced (49) opponents; they said I have brittle hands or I was a scared guy. But listen, the last time I checked, nobody has walked me down.”

Miguel Cotto’s career also closing

Fighters retire, then come back, all the time. Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico might do the same thing, but he recently said he’s going to hang up his gloves at the end of 2017. It sounds like he might stay retired, too.

“I think that 16 years is enough, and I have other things to do in my life,” said Cotto, who Saturday will take on Yoshihiro Kamegai of Japan for a vacant junior middleweight world title at StubHub Center (on HBO).

Cotto’s plan is to fight once more after this. But Cotto hasn’t won titles in four weight classes because he looks ahead, so when he was asked for a possible opponent for that final bout, he wouldn’t bite.

“First of all, I have to just think about Kamegai, and then we are going to do what we always do, you know?” he said. “Then we’re going to pick and choose the best challenger out there, and we are going to face him.”

Cotto, 36, said there is no way he’ll be fighting in 2018.

“No, the decision is already made,” he said. “I’m leaving on Dec. 31, no matter what happens with my career.”

Cotto is 40-5 with 33 knockouts. Kamegai, 34, is 27-3-2 with 24 knockouts.

Join the Conversation

We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. Although we do not pre-screen comments, we reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us, and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions.

If you see comments that you find offensive, please use the “Flag as Inappropriate” feature by hovering over the right side of the post, and pulling down on the arrow that appears. Or, contact our editors by emailing moderator@scng.com.